The rutabaga is a healthy and delicious vegetable. Features, use in cooking

Unfortunately, in recent decades, the popularity of this vegetable has dropped significantly. Only a hundred years ago in Russia they grew 35 times more vodka than today. But this root is not only easy to clean, thanks to which it gives huge yields. A rutabaga is one of the most useful vegetables.

If you were lucky enough to find this root vegetable on sale, be sure to prepare from it something delicious. Or maybe you decided to grow it yourself?

What is a rutabaga?

Scientists have established that the rutabaga is one of the oldest cultures known to man. For the first time it is mentioned in Swedish medieval sources, for which it is often credited with Swedish origin. Whether this is actually true, it is unlikely to be established, but one thing is undeniable: in Sweden, as well as in many other European countries, jeans are highly respected. She also received considerable distribution in Russia.

This vegetable belongs to the Cabbage family and is closely related to another useful vegetable - turnips. Its surface is pinkish, and the flesh is yellow.

Useful properties of rutabaga

Like many vegetables belonging to this family, the rutabaga is rich in vitamins. Its nutritional value is relatively low, but the dishes from it are light and low-calorie. Rootfruit contains a large amount of vitamin C, a lot of it and a valuable B ₆ .

This vegetable can become a real bailout for those who struggle with excess weight. The withdrawal of cholesterol from the body is one of the main qualities that the rutabaga is famous for.

Useful properties are not only in the root crop, but also in the leaves. It is unlikely that she will like someone in the raw form because of her bitter taste. But the boiled tops become tender and gives the broth a wonderful taste. It can be used, for example, to prepare a green borsch instead of sorrel, spinach, beetroot.

Both medicine and food

What did this root crop like for medieval Europeans so much so that the dishes from rutabaga took a strong place in the national cuisines of many peoples? It's not just the simplicity of cooking and the excellent taste. People have noticed from ancient times that the regular consumption of this vegetable raises immunity and strengthens health.

Particularly useful for breathing apparatus. With a dry cough, the broth of this vegetable and its seeds can dilute sputum, which will translate the disease into a dynamic phase. Recovery comes faster.

High content of calcium makes this vegetable useful for those who suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The rutabaga strengthens the bones.

Freshly squeezed juice can be used to heal wounds, including purulent, as well as early scarring of burns. When ingested, this same juice helps to reduce fever temperature, prompt treatment of colds.

Application in cosmetology

A rutabaga is a vegetable that is useful not only in the kitchen. Based on the pulp and juice of this root, you can prepare various masks that are suitable for all skin types, including for the inflamed and injured. The trouser helps to smooth out the face tone, heal wounds, reduce the number of blackheads. If you cook any useful food from this vegetable, leave a small piece for cosmetic purposes. It will need to be grated, mixed with honey and oat flour in approximately the same amount, and then briefly applied to the face. Decoction of the foliage can be used to rinse hair.

What to prepare from rutabaga?

But the most important role of this root in cooking. How is the rutabaga used? Recipes of dishes from it are similar to recipes for cooking other vegetables: potatoes, turnips, kohlrabi.

The simplest dish is puree. You just need to boil the pieces of peeled root, pass through the press, fill with oil to taste and dilute a little with hot milk. To taste such puree will resemble a potato, and nevertheless will be more fragrant. But try to buy a potato to someone who is accustomed to the trousers! Her taste will seem completely inexpressive and boring.

Very tasty vegetable casseroles, soups and ragout, which includes a rutabaga. Preparation of this vegetable requires the same amount of time as others. You can boldly crumble carrots, eggplants, peppers, potatoes and rukukwas into the kazan, and then extinguish all the vegetables together. Get a fragrant side dish for meat.

A rutabaga is a vegetable that is excellent for baking in foil. Wrap the root vegetables, put them on the deco and send it to the oven for 40 minutes.

If you like pancakes and squash, try replacing the main ingredient of the trouser. Rub the root on a grater, add a couple of spoons of flour and yolk. Bake in butter, like regular pancakes.

You can prepare a useful porridge, mixing in equal proportions grated grater and rice. Cook these ingredients in water, allowing it to evaporate almost completely. Pour in hot milk and add butter. This porridge will be tasty with both sugar and salt.

Cultivation and storage

A rutabaga is a two-year-old plant. If you decide to grow this useful vegetable yourself, check its features in advance. The rutabaga loves alkaline soil, although it can also grow in acidic soil. However, in this case, the fruits will be frail. Therefore, it is recommended to pre-treat the soil with lime. Seeds are sown during the color of mother-and-stepmother.

This vegetable is unpretentious. He likes lighting, but the frosts do not frighten him. Therefore, even if you live in the northern region, you can count on a good harvest, from which you will cook many useful dishes.

And keep the rutabaga, as well as other root crops, in the airy cool rooms.